Rotherham The Unofficial Website

www.rotherhamunofficial.co.uk

Potteries

At one time, but no longer, there were many potteries in the Rotherham area. Old Ordnance Survey maps show any number of potteries some of which survived decades. The most famous of these was the Rockingham factory at Swinton. Other local potteries were Hawley, Don and Newhill. In Rotherham Yates had a pottery that produced china letters for shop fronts.

Hawley Pottery

Potteries owned by the Hawley family existed on Pottery Lane at Rawmarsh. I have found out nothing at all about the history of these potteries so far.

Top of Page

Holmes Pottery

I have found no mention of Holmes Pottery in any of the books I have read so far. However, nerd that I am, I have been casting my eyes over some old maps of Rotherham from the 1901 Ordnance Survey. The map for Masbrough clearly shows one Holmes pottery alongside the railway at the junction of Psalters Lane and Holmes Lane but the name Pottery Row is all that exists today. Another small manufactory is shown at the edge of the New York area at the bottom of Armer Street which is also called Holmes Pottery.

Top of Page

Rotherham Pottery

Rotherham Pottery was on the banks of the River Don at the bottom of Domine Lane near the Domine Well. It was run in partnership by John Platt and Samuel Walker II from 1766 and produced white stoneware, black tortoiseshell. agate, cream and gilt enamel ware. Samuel Walker bought out the firm in 1772. In 1794 the pottery was sold to the Stanleys but may have been out of production as the site was described as several dwellings. By 1825 part of the site had been converted to an iron foundry.

Top of Page

The Don Pottery

For anyone interested in the subject of pottery in South Yorkshire a new book called "The Don Pottery 1801 - 1893" by John Griffin is now available. This pottery was situated on the banks of the river Don between Swinton and Mexborough. I will obtain more information by and by.

Top of Page